starshme
08-19-2014, 08:51 AM
We laid you to rest under the shade of a tree that was old before I was born. Someone's grandfather's grandfather planted it there on the highest point of our small village and I send him thanks and gratitude, from my time to his. We marked your spot with stones, wildflowers and tears. We remain devastated by your loss, Pumpkin, and I turn several times a day to see if you're awake and ready to play.
Who knew that you would wiggle your way so deeply into our hearts? You went from throwing yourself on your back if you even thought a hand was nearing your cage, to demanding attention and settling down for a nap when said hand was still for more than ten seconds. We made every mistake in the book, and probably invented a few along the way but you never held a grudge.
My initial attempts at a bin cage were met with cautious approval and you quickly outsmarted me by figuring out how to escape most of them. You never wandered far, but proof of your adventures is not difficult to find. The chewed up sweatshirts that you made your first ‘nest away from cage’ in have not been tossed out. In fact, they are worn with a certain sense of chagrin that such a tiny ball of fluff could cause that much damage in a few short hours. The living room drapes that you chewed through on another adventure have yet to be replaced. Though your handiwork is hidden behind a sofa, the evidence of little teeth at work is unmistakable. I couldn't even be angry; I was just too relieved that you hadn't tried to eat a crystal or a sequin.
You were the cause of many an out of season spring cleaning. Many early mornings were spent bleary- eyed, crawling under and behind furniture, surprised by the amount of dust under a bed or the discovery of loose change in a recliner, as we tried to ‘think like a hamster’. More often than not, you simply sauntered out when you were ready to be found.
If we enriched your life by even a tenth of the amount you enriched ours, I will consider our efforts successful. If I could send you a message it would simply be that you were loved and you are remembered.
My most sincere sympathies to anyone who has lost a pet and my deepest gratitude to everyone who answered questions, encouraged and consoled us as we were losing Apollo.
Apollo in happier times
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah86/Starshme/Apollo/apollo_zps106b6f89.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/Starshme/media/Apollo/apollo_zps106b6f89.jpg.html)
Hamster hide and seek
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah86/Starshme/Apollo/securedownload_zpsa6331bc0.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/Starshme/media/Apollo/securedownload_zpsa6331bc0.jpg.html)
This tube is hamster approved
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah86/Starshme/Apollo/securedownload1_zps7bb669a2.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/Starshme/media/Apollo/securedownload1_zps7bb669a2.jpg.html)
Asleep in the giant hand
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah86/Starshme/Apollo/apollosleeping_zpse41ebe4b.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/Starshme/media/Apollo/apollosleeping_zpse41ebe4b.jpg.html)
Who knew that you would wiggle your way so deeply into our hearts? You went from throwing yourself on your back if you even thought a hand was nearing your cage, to demanding attention and settling down for a nap when said hand was still for more than ten seconds. We made every mistake in the book, and probably invented a few along the way but you never held a grudge.
My initial attempts at a bin cage were met with cautious approval and you quickly outsmarted me by figuring out how to escape most of them. You never wandered far, but proof of your adventures is not difficult to find. The chewed up sweatshirts that you made your first ‘nest away from cage’ in have not been tossed out. In fact, they are worn with a certain sense of chagrin that such a tiny ball of fluff could cause that much damage in a few short hours. The living room drapes that you chewed through on another adventure have yet to be replaced. Though your handiwork is hidden behind a sofa, the evidence of little teeth at work is unmistakable. I couldn't even be angry; I was just too relieved that you hadn't tried to eat a crystal or a sequin.
You were the cause of many an out of season spring cleaning. Many early mornings were spent bleary- eyed, crawling under and behind furniture, surprised by the amount of dust under a bed or the discovery of loose change in a recliner, as we tried to ‘think like a hamster’. More often than not, you simply sauntered out when you were ready to be found.
If we enriched your life by even a tenth of the amount you enriched ours, I will consider our efforts successful. If I could send you a message it would simply be that you were loved and you are remembered.
My most sincere sympathies to anyone who has lost a pet and my deepest gratitude to everyone who answered questions, encouraged and consoled us as we were losing Apollo.
Apollo in happier times
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah86/Starshme/Apollo/apollo_zps106b6f89.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/Starshme/media/Apollo/apollo_zps106b6f89.jpg.html)
Hamster hide and seek
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah86/Starshme/Apollo/securedownload_zpsa6331bc0.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/Starshme/media/Apollo/securedownload_zpsa6331bc0.jpg.html)
This tube is hamster approved
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah86/Starshme/Apollo/securedownload1_zps7bb669a2.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/Starshme/media/Apollo/securedownload1_zps7bb669a2.jpg.html)
Asleep in the giant hand
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah86/Starshme/Apollo/apollosleeping_zpse41ebe4b.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/Starshme/media/Apollo/apollosleeping_zpse41ebe4b.jpg.html)